A rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violates the beliefs of members of a Catholic association, a federal judge ruled on June 5.
The HHS rule requiring members of the Catholic Benefits Association to perform transgender procedures “violates their sincerely held religious beliefs without satisfying strict scrutiny,” U.S. District Judge Peter Welte said in a 19-page decision.
He permanently blocked HHS from enforcing the rule against the association and its current members.
The ruling also prevents the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from requiring the association and its members to provide insurance coverage for transgender procedures.
Spokespersons for the agencies declined to comment….